Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S.

Scott & Fowles, New York
Sale: Sotheby's, New York, June 7, 1991, lot 220, illustrated
Acquired at the above sale

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has recently been restored. The sky on the left side is slightly thin above the figures and in the upper left there is another group of restorations subduing some thinness. It is unclear whether Munnings himself intended this thinness to the paint layer or whether it has developed more recently. However, although the paint layer is not necessarily dirty, the retouches have not been perfectly applied and this thinness in the sky can be addressed in a much more successful fashion using considerably less retouching.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Steeplechasing is believed to have emerged in Ireland in 1752 when it was simply a match between two horses over obstacles between two village church steeples. By 1792, the first recorded race with multiple runners took place over eight miles of open country but the horses had to be bona fide hunters and the riders "gentlemen" rather than professional jockeys. By the 1860s, annual races, set courses, and stands for spectators became more common as enthusiasm for the sport grew.

While Henry Alken, the sport's earliest immortalizer, showed the thrills and spills of steeplechasing, it was Sir Alfred Munnings who evoked the excitement and power of 1000 pounds of uncoiled equine energy. Horses exploding into the gallop at the start of a race is the image most readily associated with Munnings. However, in the present work, the full force of these horses has not been unleashed to maximum potential. Jockeys sit with their weight still in their saddles, restraining their mounts, as they vie for position just seconds before the starter's flag drops.

The number 8 horse is most carefully depicted but as the scene recedes into the distance, moving legs, overall activity and visual clarity blur, as if the distant horses race to catch up with the lead runner. Munnings has summarily painted the flurry of legs to express the thundering hooves of anxious horses. To further articulate the movement, equine forms are sequentially repeated as if moving through time and space, while the horizon extending flatly to the right draws them forward.

It is likely that most of these horses belonged to Munnings. The front bay horse is probably Anarchist, followed by Rufus and the grey is also a frequent model.